Refillable bottle for the retail packaging of liquids



Jan. 18, 1966 A. A. FILLEUL REFILLABLE BOTTLE FOR THE RETAIL PACKAGING OF LIQUIDS Filed July 31, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F LIQUIDS Jan. 18, 1966 A. A. FILLEUL REFILLABLE BOTTLE FOR THE RETAIL PACKAGING 0 Filed July 31, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 18, 1966' A. A. FILLEUL REFILLABLE BOTTLE FOR THE RETAIL PACKAGING 0? LIQUIDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 51, 1964 Fig. 5

Fig. 6

United States Patent Oflice 3,229,840 Patented Jan. 18, 1966 3,229,840 REFILLABLE BOTTLE FOR THE RETAIL PACKAGING F LIQUIDS Andr Albert Filleul, 110 Ave. de Neuilly, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France Filed July 31, 1964, Ser. No. 386,542 Claims priority, application France, Aug. 3, 1963, 943,694;

Jan. 31, 1964, 962,275; Apr. 8, 1964, 970,122 Claims. (Cl. 215-2) This invention relates to liquid containers and more particularly to containers of the prepackaged type.

It is well-known that glass possesses many desirable qualities and is for this reason, to cite one example of its many applications, almost the exclusive material used to fabricate bottles. Among the many advantages which it brings to such an application may be cited its trans parency, its clean'appearance, its-rigidity, and, more generally, the attractive package which it presents for beverages.

Despite these considerable assets, this material presents several disadvantages which are serious'enough to have impelled manufacturers to search for-new materials which willovercome these disadvantages and which at the same time will not oppose the relatively strong resistance to change which is characteristc of the buying public.

The disadvantages of glass are its fragility and its relative heaviness. Its fragility renders it somewhat diflicult, and even dangerous, to handle and causes the cost of bottles to be increased due to breakage. As an example, a single bottle of mineral water is handled an average of twenty-five times during its trip from the shipper to the consumer, an average of one bottle out of twenty-five is broken during such a trip, and seven bottles per thousand are broken during cleaning and refilling. Because of its great weight (its total shipping weight, considering that it makes one trip when full and a return trip when empty, is almost one and a half time that of the contained liquid) bottles made therefrom require special carriers (e.g. segmented wooden cases) which are themselves heavy, bulky, and inconvenient to handle, all of which goes to increase shipping costs.

Finally, the handling of glass bottles is complicated th'e fact that most of them require a deposit which is reimbursed when the bottle is returned.

It is an object of this invention to preserve the numerous advantages possesed by glass bottles while eliminating the above-noted disadvantages.

It is a more special object of the present invention to eliminate the countless trips which a bottle previously had to make between the bottler and the consumer.

The present invention seeks to eliminate the difiiculties previously associated with glass bottles through the provision of a novel glass bottle having a closeable opening through which maybe introduced a refill comprising a charge of liquid prepackaged in a flexible insert con-- forming to the dimensions of the bottle and having a neck which is made longer th'anthat of the bottle in order that the neck of the container may be cut when it is desired to gain access to the liquid.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description, when taken together with the attached drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is'an exploded, longitudinal cross-sectional view of one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional detail view of one form for the neck of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIGURES 3'ar1d 4 are views similar to that of FIGURE 2, showing variations of the neck structure of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is schematic view showing the manner of filling the flexible container;

FIGURE 6 is a'partial cross-sectional view showing a variation of the embodiment of FIGURE 1.

In the various figures, the same element will be given the same reference number.

The drawings generally show a glass bottle 1 having a standard shape, i.e. furnished with a narrow neck 2 having a lip 3 extending around its outer surface near its upper end. The bottle has a removable-base to permit the insertion of a refill container or insert 4. The refill container or insert is constituted of flexible material, and has a shape which conforms essentially to the inner demensions of bottle 1, but has aneck 5 which is longer than the bottle neck '2. The container 4, filled with liquid and sealed, is-placed in bottle 1 and the base 6 is then attached to the bottle so as to hold the refill in place. The base 6 is preferably rigid and is made of any suitable material, for example a suitable plastic.

In order to assure the correct positioning of neck 5, as well as the impermeability of the contactbetween this neck and the bottle neck, complementary means are provided. These latter means may be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 consists of a cylindrical sleeve 7 having an outer' skirt 9 terminated by an inwardly-directed annular shoulder10. This sleeve is made from a semi-rigid ma terial and is placed in neck 2 while the shoulder 10 is held in place by lip 3. This sleeve 7 can rotate in neck' 2 but can not be easily removed therefrom.

On the inner cylindrical surface 8 of sleeve 7 is provided a first, large pitch screw-thread 11 which is positioned so as to cooperate with a corresponding thread 12 on the'outer surface of container neck 5. By rotating skirt 9, by means of a roughened, or knurled, portion" 13 of its outer surface, the cooperating screw'threads are caused to engage, thus urging container 4 upward so as to establish an intimate contact with the inner surface of bottle 1. This movement simultaneously assures a good positioning of neck 5 and an impermeable joint which prevents the flow of liquid between bottle and container during pouring.

In order to open the container thus formed, the top of neck 5' is cut off with any sharp instrument, e.g. a scissors the cut being made preferably close to the upper surface of sleeve 7.

During usage, the bottle may be temporarily capped by a removable cap 15 having a longitudinally extending skirt 16 Whose outer surface is furnished with a screw-thread 17 designed to engage a second screw thread 18 on the inner cylindrical surface 8 of sleeve 7 above screw thread 11. When cap 15 is in place, the upper portion of neck 5 is disposed between the bottom of the cap and sleeve 7 and since the thickness of the wallof neck-5 is relatively small the diameters of skirt 16' and screw thread 17 can be varied somewhat.

In the variation shown in FIGURE 3 the complementary means consists of flexible collar 19 which is welded, glued, or heat sealed, along the region 20,'to neck 5. Neck 5 has a narrowed portion 5a opposite which is disposed, on collar 19, an inwardly-directed, annular screw thread 21.

For positioning the refill container 4, there is provided a cap 22 having a skirt 23 whose lower extremity is provided with a screw thread 24 designed to mate with screw thread 21 of collar 19. The skirt 23 of cap 22 has an external diameter which is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of neck 2. Cap 22 is also furnished with a pull ring 25.

With this arrangement, container 4 is put into position by causing cap 22 to engage collar 19 and by the pulling on ring 25 until collar 19, which deforms elastically in order to pass through bottle neck 2,.l1as emerged far enough to permit its flared upper end to be free of neck 2 and to expand on the upper surface thereof, It is then a simple matter for the consumer to unscrew cap 22 and cut off the top of neck portion a in order to use the bottle. For storage after opening, it is only necessary to replace cap 22.

In the variation of FIGURE 4, the complementary means consists of the provision of a large pitch screw thread 26 on neck 5 and in the employment of a sleeve 27, furnished with a shoulder 28 which bears against the upper end of bottle neck 2. Sleeve 27 also has a tubular portion 29 furnished with a screw thread 30 designed to mate with screw thread 26.

In this arrangement the end of neck 5 is also narrowed at its upper end in order to permit the passage of the skirt 32 of a cap 31. Cap 31 is provided with a suitable screw thread 33 arranged to mate with a corresponding thread 34 formed on the internal surface of tubular portion 29.

Although all of the structures described above employ screw threads to effect the various connections, it should be appreciated that any other known joining technique may be used.

Turning now to FIGURE 5, wherein is shown a container 4 prior to its insertion in a bottle, it may be seen that the container has, in the portion destined to serve as its bottom, a funnel-like opening 4a which is large enough to permit the introduction of the filling spout 35 of any known type of filling device. The liquid can thus be packaged by standard equipment with the aid of simple auxiliary devices for assuring the maintenance of container 4 in position during the operation. After the filling has been completed, the opening is closed, for example by heat sealing opening 4a along the line 36. The waste portion of the opening may then be cut off if desired.

The filling can also be accomplished through a similar orifice located at any other point on container 4 and may even be effected through neck 5 before the latter is sealed, provided a suitably dimensioned pouring spout is used.

In the variation of FIGURE 6, is may be seen that container 4 comprises an auxiliary sealed chamber 37 one wall of which has a weakened section 38 to which is attached a line 39 which passes in an impermeable manner, through the lower wall of container 4.

At the moment when container 4 is placed in bottle 1, the line 39 is made to pass out of the bottle through a hole 6a formed in base 6, then the latter is put in place in the normal manner, e.g. by means of a simple force fitting. This arrangegment permits the consumer or the retailer to break chamber 37 by pulling on line 39, so as to tear section 38, and to thus permit chamber 37 to communicate with the main portion of container 4, thereby obtaining a mixing of the contents of the respective chambers.

Such an arrangement is desirable, for example, when the main region of container 4 contains a liquid and chamber 37 contains effervescent mineral salts or fruit pulp.

The filling opening such as opening 4a for container 4 can be made sufiiciently largeto permit the introduction of chamber 37, line 39 being made to pass through this opening and being sealed in an impermeable manner at the time of the sealing of the opening.

Chamber 37 could be made so as to be openable by some means other than a line for tearing a wall, for example by means of a pin. 7

The removable caps and the sleeves for the various embodiments, as well as the refill insert 4, could be made of any suitable material, preferably of a chemically inert plastic.

It thus results that this invention eliminates most of the inconveniences previously presented by the use of glass bottles. In effect, the glass bottle, according to the invention, is purchased only once by the consumer, while all of the handling, shipping and stocking is carried out for the refill containers 4.

A considerable economy is thus realized because of the.

following improvements:

Elimination of the investment of capital in stocks of bottles and bottle cases;

Virtual elimination of breakage;

Reduction in shipping costs since the average glass bottle weighs around 660 grams (1 /2 lbs.) while a flexible plastic refill container may weigh as little as 8 to 10 grams (0.33 02.) resulting in a total saving of 1.3 kg. (2.9 lbs.) (based on round trip of bottle) per bottle;

Decrease of 65% in shipping space since the nature of the refill containers makes it unnecessary for them to be separated from one another during shipment and hani dling, and thus eliminates the need for shipping cases;

Elimination of the need for cleaning or relabeling since the glass bottle is transparent and since the flexible con tainers can be printed, or still better etched, at the time of fabrication, i.e. the label can be molded in relief at the time of the molding of the containers;

Elimination of deposits, and Acceleration and simplification of deliveries. Moreover, this novel packaging arrangement permits an exact control of the amount of air contained in the refill containers, and even a complete elimination of air which will aid the conservation of certain sensitive liquids, such as wine, milk, cider, beer, mineral waters, and the. 1

like.

While certain particular embodiments of the'present invention have been shown and described above, it should be appreciated that many variations can be produced without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as.

defined by the annexed claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A package for liquids comprising a rigid container having opposite ends and including a tapered neck portion at one end and a removable portion at the other end, a closed and sealed refill container adapted for containing a substance therein, said refill container having a normal pre-formed shape approximately corresponding to that of the rigid container and being movablydisposed within said rigid container, said refill container including a tapered neck portion which is longer than that of the rigid container, and means for engaging said containers to displace the same relative to one another to cause the neck portion of the refill container to be. urged into contact with the neck portion of the rigid containerand to project therefrom, whereby the neck portion of the refill container can thereafter be severed to ,permitdispensing the contents therefrom, said neck portion of said refill container having a screw thread on its outer surface, said means for engaging said containers comprising a cylindrical positioning sleeve extending partially into said neck portion of the rigid container and having a screw thread on its inner surface which is engaged with said screw thread on said neck portion of said refill container, said sleeve being rotatably mounted on said rigid container whereby u pon rotation the sleeve of said refill container is displaced with respect to the rigid container.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rigid container is glass.

3. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said refill container includes two chambers and a frangible wall separating said chambers, each of said chambers containing a different substance, said refill container further comprising means for breaking said wall.

4. A package as claimed in claim 3, wherein said removable portion of the rigid container has a hole through which is accessible said means for breaking said wall.

5. A package as claimed in claim 4, wherein said breaking means is attached to said wall and extends externally of said refill container and through said hole in said removable portion.

6. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve includes a depending skirt and a terminal inwardly directed annular shoulder for engaging said sleeve with the neck portion of said rigid container such that said sleeve can be easily rotated with respect to said rigid container and is not separable therefrom.

7. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve includes engaging means for receiving a removable closing cap which closes the thus severed refill container.

8. A package as claimed in claim 7, wherein said means for engaging the container comprises an annular flexible collar externally secured to the neck portion of the refill container and engaged within the neck portion of the rigid container and extending therebeyond and into contact with the upper surface thereof.

9. A package as claimed in claim 8, wherein the neck portion of said refill container includes an upper narrow 6 portion which forms a space with said collar when said neck portion of the refill container projects through the neck portion of said rigid container.

10. A package as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means for engaging the container further comprises a removable cap including a skirt portion which extends between said collar and said narrow portion of the neck portion of said refill container, said skirt portion being engaged with the collar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PACKAGE FOR LIQUIDS COMPRISING A RIGID CONTAINER HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS AND INCLUDING A TAPERED NECK PORTION AT ONE END AND A REMOVABLE PORTION AT THE OTHER END, A CLOSED AND SEALED REFILL CONTAINER ADAPTED FOR CONTAINING A SUBSTANCE THEREIN, SAID REFILL CONTAINER HAVING A NORMAL PRE-FORMED SHAPE APPROXIMATELY CORRESPONDING TO THAT OF THE RIGID CONTAINER AND BEING MOVABLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID RIGID CONTAINER, AND REFILL CONTAINER INCLUDING A TAPERED NECK PORTION WHICH IS LONGER THAN THAT OF THE RIGID CONTAINER, AND MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID CONTAINERS TO DISPLACE THE SAME RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER TO CAUSE THE NECK PORTION OF THE REFILL CONTAINER TO BE URGED INTO CONTACT WITH THE NECK PORTION OF THE RIGID CONTAINER AND TO PROJECT THEREFROM, WHEREBY THE NECK PORTION OF THE REFILL CONTAINER CAN THEREAFTER BE SEVERED TO PERMIT DISPENSING THE CONTENTS THEREFROM, SAID NECK PORTION OF SAID REFILL CONTAINER HAVING A SCREW THREAD ON ITS OUTER SURFACE, SAID MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL POSITIONING SLEEVE EXTENDING PARTIALLY INTO SAID NECK PORTION OF THE RIGID CONTAINER AND HAVING A SCREW THREAD ON ITS INNER SURFACE WHICH IS ENGAGED WITH SAID SCREW THREAD ON SAID NECK PORTION OF SAID REFILL CONTANER, SAID SLEEVE BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID RIGID CONTAINER WHEREBY UPON ROTATION THE SLEEVE OF SAID REFILL CONTAINER IS DISPLACED WITH RESPECT TO THE RIGID CONTAINER. 